Invited Paper VT+EN+TF-TuA3
Applications and Limitations of Wear-Resistant PVD Coatings

Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 2:40 pm, Room 202 C

Nowadays a broad range of applications exists using PVD hard coatings produced under vacuum condition. For instance thin diamond-like carbon films and other carbon containing coatings are widely used in car engines and are mandatory for modern fuel saving high pressure Diesel injection systems. Coated cutting tools allow for more severe cutting conditions and/or increased life time which results in lower costs per work piece for the component manufacturer. In applications like steel sheet forming and blanking or plastic injection moulding the coated tools show less adhesive and abrasive wear so that cleaning cycles of the tool can be extended and life time is increased. In some applications the tribological advantages of hard coatings are combined with a desired decorative appearance.

This presentation will give an overview of typical applications of PVD coatings as well as the vacuum coating systems and processes used to manufacture those coatings. Typical failure mechanisms and approaches to overcome limitations and strategies to increase the performance of the coatings and to cope with new requirements in future applications will be presented. Coating performance and failure mechanisms will be reported using techniques like Rockwell indentation, calo test, pin-on-disc test, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, micro indentation or x-ray diffraction.